1. Thirteen years ago, I bit the bullet and added HBO to my satellite network. For a long long time, I resisted the lure of the luxury channel; I didn't need no stinking recycled movies, or pretentious hyper produced telly series, no sir, I was having none of it, holding the bull at bay, and keeping the change in my pocket for other amusing hobbies, until...The Sopranos. For those of you who missed the wedding, the six season run of the greatest series that ever laced them up under cable lights, it's not too late for you to re-live the moments. Whatever came after The Sopranos, touched the cloak, but never the master. The Sopranos, my friends, danced every dance, and hit all the fucking high notes. 'The Wire,' 'Six Feet Under,' 'Deadwood,' etc etc emulated, genuflected and kissed the ring. My brother in law once wondered out loud if he wanted to invite the series into his living room every week. The truth was that The Sopranos brought droves of men to the Sunday night viewing. The writing was superlative. The camera work richly composed and lit. There was something for everyone. And when the opening chord of 'Woke up this morning' by Alabama 3 fired up the show, it was money. The most successful cable series, eva. James Gandolfini was a man (bada bing!) among the boys. Tomorrow night the lights on Broadway will dim for one minute in his memory...the ultimate thespian accolade.
2. Mad Men. Close but no cigar. See above. Season finale left no stone unturned. The final 10 seconds close again, but...
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